England pacers need to play more domestic cricket to be effective in
Test matches, remarked England pacer Andrew Caddick.
Caddick was in Sharjah as a member of the Lord's Taverners cricket team
to play against the Fly Emirates in a charity series.
Caddick, who was born in New Zealand made his Test debut in 1993 and
represented England for a decade.
"If only they play enough domestic cricket they can get into the right
frame of mind to play in the technically perfect Test cricket. I think
these guys are being looked after too well that they do not feel the
need to play enough domestic cricket," added Caddick, who had taken 234
wickets from 62 matches and 69 wickets from 54 One-day internationals.
He has an action which resembles Richard Hadlee's.
"It is important that the bowlers should have a couple of good spells
in domestic cricket under their belts as preparation for the Test
matches. Unfortunately this has not been happening and is one of the
biggest problems at the moment," said Caddick, who has a tally of 1,070
wickets in first class cricket.
When asked why England could not produce good pacers like the
Australians, Caddick said: "In England the structure is still not in
place. One has to bowl a lot to become an effective pacer. Steve
Harmison bowled just 180 overs in domestic cricket a season while I
bowled over 800 overs," said Caddick, who played for Somerset since his
debut in 1991.
"One needs to bowl a lot before being picked for Test cricket. We need
players to be up and running before they play a Test series," he added.
However, Caddick refuted the claim that England pacers are only
effective in English conditions.
"The pace attack of every country will be one which will suit their
country," he said.
Caddick believes that Australian pace attack is still the best in the
world. "Though McGrath has retired there is Stuart Clarke coming
through. They also have Brett Lee and many more bowlers are coming
through the ranks," said Caddick, who was surprisingly dropped for the
Ashes series despite taking 105 wickets in 1998.
Caddick also feels that pace bowling may play a big role in deciding
the winners of the World Cup.
"In West Indies the wickets are a bit up and down and unevenly
prepared. It would be interesting to see what will happen," said
Caddick who has produced a few deadly spells against the West Indies.
In the 2000 series against West Indies, he took 5 for 16 in the second
innings of the Lord's Test to bowl them out for 54 and in the fourth
Test at Headingley, he took four wickets to bowl out West Indies for
61.
According to Caddick, Englandís selectors have struggled to pick the
probables for the World Cup. "We need to have a more consistent team. A
winning team has to be consistent in their preparation and performance.
English cricket should have a good look at itself and restructure
itself."
Caddick picked Australia to win the World Cup again. "They have always
been a strong force. India may give them a good run for their money,"
he concluded.